U.S. patent application number 12/124738 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for liquid transfer device.
Invention is credited to Don Liang.
Application Number | 20090074624 12/124738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39942626 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090074624 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liang; Don |
March 19, 2009 |
LIQUID TRANSFER DEVICE
Abstract
A liquid transfer device is provided for biochemical assay,
including a pipette forming an interior space extending in an axial
direction and having first and second ends. The first end forms an
opening and the second end forms an enclosed variable volume,
whereby variation of the volume causes a change of pressure to
selectively induce a suction force and a releasing force in the
pipette. An analysis container includes a plurality of receptacles
retained by a slab. A film covers the slab to seal the container. A
movement control device includes a manipulator that releasably
holds the pipette and a tray that forms a cavity for receiving and
retaining the container. The pipette and the tray are movable with
respect to each other in order to fill/draw test agent into/out of
the receptacles.
Inventors: |
Liang; Don; (Jhongli,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIRTON AND MCCONKIE
60 EAST SOUTH TEMPLE,, SUITE 1800
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84111
US
|
Family ID: |
39942626 |
Appl. No.: |
12/124738 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 2300/041 20130101;
B01L 3/502 20130101; B01L 2300/044 20130101; B01L 3/021 20130101;
G01N 35/10 20130101; B01L 9/523 20130101; B01L 3/50855 20130101;
B01L 2400/0481 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/100 ;
422/102 |
International
Class: |
B01L 3/02 20060101
B01L003/02; B01L 3/00 20060101 B01L003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 19, 2007 |
TW |
096215747 |
Claims
1. A liquid transfer device comprising: a pipette forming an
interior space extending in an axial direction and having first and
second ends, the first end forming an opening and the second end
forming an enclosed variable volume, whereby variation of the
volume causes change of pressure, which selectively induces a
suction force or a releasing force in the pipette, the pipette
further comprising at least one fixing section; an analysis
container forming a plurality of receptacles which is retained by a
slab, the analysis container comprising a lock section; cover means
comprising a cover film that covers a surface of the slab to seal
the analysis container; and movement control means comprising a
manipulator and a tray, the tray forming a cavity receiving the
analysis container therein and a retention section engageable with
the lock section to secure the analysis container to the tray.
2. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
second end of the pipette comprises an enclosed volume-variable
bladder that defines the variable volume of the second end of the
pipette, the bladder comprising a bellow structure made of an
elastic material, and extending in an axial direction of the
pipette or in a direction transverse to the axial direction.
3. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
second end of the pipette comprises an enclosed volume-variable
bladder that defines the variable volume of the second end of the
pipette, the bladder comprising an elastic structure having a
spherical shape.
4. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
manipulator comprises at least one coupling member for engaging and
retaining the fixing section of the pipette.
5. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
movement control means comprises a driving mechanism for inducing
an action force to the pipette to cause the variation of the volume
of second end of the pipette to selectively generate the suction
force and the releasing force.
6. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
fixing section selectively comprises a groove, a circumferential
slot, and a hole.
7. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
slab forms an opening in which an individual receptacle is received
and held, the individual receptacle functioning as a final product
collection receptacle and located at an end of the slab, the
individual receptacle comprising a cover.
8. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
receptacles include a magnetic separation receptacle having a
substantially flat bottom having a sloped surface for retaining
magnetic beads that are disposed in the magnetic separation
receptacle for carrying out magnetic separation operation.
9. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
receptacles include temperature-controlled receptacles for
realizing temperature control for the liquid transfer device.
10. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
slab has a surface on which a tip portion is formed at a location
close to the opening for the final product collection
receptacle.
11. The liquid transfer device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
pipette and the tray carried by the movement control means are
relatively movable with respect to each other so that a relatively
movable relationship is formed therebetween, the relatively movable
relationship being selected from one of a first relationship
wherein the pipette is movable in both horizontal and vertical
directions, while the tray is kept stationary, a second
relationship wherein the pipette is moved in the horizontal
direction, while the tray is movable in the vertical direction, or
a third relationship wherein the pipette is movable in a vertical
direction, while the tray is movable in the horizontal
direction.
12. A pipette adapted to use in a liquid transfer device,
comprising a hollow member extending in an axial direction and
having first and second ends in the axial direction, the first end
forming an opening, the second end forming an enclosed variable
volume, whereby the variation of the volume causes change of
pressure to selectively induce a suction force or a releasing force
in the pipette, the pipette comprising at least one fixing
section.
13. The pipette as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fixing section
selectively comprises a groove, a circumferential slot, and a hole
those adapted to engage an external component.
14. The pipette as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second end of
the pipette comprises an enclosed volume-variable bladder that
defines the variable volume of the second end of the pipette, the
bladder comprising a bellow structure made of an elastic material,
and extending in an axial direction of the pipette or in a
direction transverse to the axial direction.
15. The pipette as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second end of
the pipette comprises an enclosed volume-variable bladder that
defines the variable volume of the second end of the pipette, the
bladder comprising an elastic structure having a spherical
shape.
16. A container for use in a liquid transfer device comprising a
plurality of receptacles retained by a slab, the container further
comprising a lock section, and cover means comprising a film
covering a surface of the slab.
17. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lock section
is engageable a retention member formed in an external component to
be secured to the external component.
18. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the slab forms an
opening in which an individual receptacle is received and retained,
the individual receptacle functioning as a final product collection
receptacle and located at an end of the slab, the individual
receptacle comprising a cover, and wherein the slab has a surface
on which a tip portion is formed at a location close to the opening
for the final product collection receptacle.
19. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the receptacles
include a magnetic separation receptacle having a substantially
flat bottom having a sloped surface for retaining magnetic beads
that are disposed in the magnetic separation receptacle for
carrying out magnetic separation operation.
20. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the receptacles
include temperature-controlled receptacles for realizing
temperature control for the liquid transfer device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a liquid transfer device,
and in particular to an automatic tiny-amount liquid transfer
device in which a pipette works with a multiple-receptacle analysis
container that is pre-filled with test agent to carry out
operations of purification, extraction, separation and selection on
nucleic acids.
[0003] 2. The Related Arts
[0004] With the advancement of researches on human genome and
functional group, research/developing techniques for macromolecular
biology of life science, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and
enzymes, is getting mature. However, biochemical samples are often
mixtures of various components and having extremely complicated
compositions. Heretofore, biochemical samples, such as blood and
cells, are first purified by means of separation, extraction, and
heating and then inspection and selection of the purified samples
are conducted.
[0005] Purification of nucleic acids is mature technique and a
standardized process for sample purification includes loading the
sample into a container and adding a buffer solution in the
container, followed by disposing magnetic beads into the container
and mixing the magnetic beads with the sample and the buffer
solution in the container to thereafter proceed with magnetic
separation. Then, an elution buffer is added and the sample is
heated. Finally, extraction of purified products is carried out.
Due to the standardization of the process of purification, mass
production of test agents can be readily done for regents for the
purification of different nucleic acids. Three major issues are
currently concerned for the conventional purification techniques.
The first issue is to effect precise control of the amount of test
agent that is sucked, released and transferred with a conventional
liquid transfer pipette. The conventional liquid transfer facility
uses a piston inside the pipette that change positions to induce a
pressure difference between inside and outside the pipette. To
temporarily hold an amount of liquid for realizing suction,
transfer, and mixture of the test agents, a tip is needed. A
drawback of the repeatedly usable piston-based tip is concerned
with cross contamination occurring in the course of liquid transfer
among different samples. Further, the tip that is used with a
liquid transfer pipette requires piston rings that need regular and
periodic replacement and maintenance. In addition, the conventional
device is made complicated in order to realize precise control of
the amount of liquid transferred by using the piston-based tip
working with the liquid transfer pipette, and the operation gets
very inconvenient. Costs of time and labor have extensively wasted,
making it is necessary to improve the conventional device.
Secondly, in magnetic separation that is included in the
purification of nucleic acids, conventionally, a hollow sheath is
used to receive a magnetic member therein and the hollow sheath
with the magnetic member therein is extended into a test agent
container that is pre-filled with a test agent to carry out the
magnetic separation. This method suffers that only a limited number
of magnetic beads can be removed from the test agent container each
time the sheath is inserted into the container. Thus, the sheath
must be repeatedly reached into the container to carry out magnetic
separation until desired extraction sample is obtained. Such a
magnetic separation process is very troublesome and needs extra
time and handling, making it necessary to improve. Further, a film
is attached to and seals the agent container to protect the agent
from contamination. In order to facilitate removal of the film, the
film, which is usually made of plastics, is not so securely
attached to the container, often leading to leakage of the agent,
which can be volatile, out of the container once variation of
pressures takes place, or simply due to defeat sealing of the film.
On the other hand, in some cases, the film might get too secured to
the container, making the removal extremely difficult and
eventually leading to undesired spillage of the agent in removing
the film with excessive force.
[0006] It is noted that Korean Patent KR10-0445560 (Publication
number: KR20030035621/Publication date: 2003 May 9) discloses a
nucleic acid separation kit, which comprises a cylindrical
container and a dome cover, which are separate parts. The container
forms therein a plurality of cells. The cover forms inward
projections. The inside diameter of the container defines a space
for accommodating the insertion of a magnetic bar for carrying out
magnetic separation that is a necessary step for purification of
nucleic acids. The cells, after being filled with buffer liquids or
enzymes, are sealed with a film. To carry out purification of
nucleic acids, the projections of the cover pierce through and
break the film that seals the cells. This operation, however,
suffers a drawback that the surface of the film that seals the
cells is very likely to have contaminants that might significantly
deteriorate the result of the purification process attached
thereto, especially after the device has been subjected to
transportation or conveyance. In addition, the handling process of
transportation and disassembly may also cause potential risk of
attaching human or animal skin, blood, sweat to the surface of the
film so that when the projections of the cover piece through the
film and get into the cells, the contaminants entrain the
projections into the cells, making the purification of the final
products deteriorated.
[0007] Apparently, all the known liquid transfer devices suffer
drawback and disadvantages. Improvement is needed to provide a
liquid transfer device that eliminates cross contamination caused
by the operation of a liquid transfer pipette, while ensures easy
removal of the sealing film to avoid contamination and
deterioration of the result of inspection caused by surface
contaminants of the film to thereby overcome the drawbacks of the
know techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid
transfer device and an analysis container for use with the liquid
transfer device, which provides precise control of the amount of
test agent inside a pipette used in the liquid transfer device and
also ensures proper isolation between samples and the surrounding
to eliminate the potential risk of cross contamination in the
course of biochemical purification, extraction, selection, and
inspection.
[0009] To achieve the above objective, according to the present
invention, a liquid transfer device comprises a pipette, an
analysis container, cover means, and a movement control device. The
pipette forms an interior space extending in an axial direction and
having first and second ends. The first end forms an opening. The
second end forms an enclosed variable volume and variation of the
volume causes change of pressure, which selectively induces a
suction force or a releasing force in the pipette. The pipette
further comprises at least one fixing section. The analysis
container forms a plurality of receptacles which is retained by a
slab and is pre-filled with test agents that are required for the
processes of biochemical operation. The analysis container
comprises a lock section. The cover means comprises a cover film
that covers a surface of the slab to seal the analysis container
after the receptacles are filled with the test agents. The movement
control device comprises a manipulator and a tray. The tray forms a
cavity for receiving the analysis container therein and a retention
section engageable with the lock section to secure the analysis
container to the tray.
[0010] To achieve the above objective, the present invention also
provides a pipette for use in a liquid transfer device. The pipette
comprises a hollow member extending in an axial direction and
having first and second ends in the axial direction. The first end
forms an opening and the second end forms an enclosed variable
volume. The variation of the volume causes change of pressure to
selectively induce a suction force or a releasing force in the
pipette. The pipette also comprises at least one fixing section for
being held by the liquid transfer device.
[0011] To achieve the above objective, the present invention
provides an analysis container for use in a liquid transfer device.
The analysis container comprises a plurality of receptacles
retained by a slab. Among the receptacles, one is a magnetic
separation receptacle, which has a specific configuration, disposed
at an end of the slab. The magnetic separation receptacle has a
flat bottom having a sloped surface to cooperate with a magnetic
element for carrying out magnetic separation operation. In other
words, the magnetic element is positioned close to the sloped
surface of the magnetic separation receptacle to magnetically
attract magnetic beads received in the receptacle to the sloped
surface whereby a pipette can be deeply inserted into the
receptacle to draw in test agent after the magnetic separation.
With the magnetic beads held on the sloped surface, the pipette can
be moved to locate above the sloped surface for releasing test
agent stored therein and then moved to the bottom of the receptacle
for re-draw in the test agent. By repeatedly flushing the magnetic
beads held on the sloped surface in this way, extraction sample of
high purity can be obtained.
[0012] The analysis container further comprises a lock section. And
cover means comprising a film is provided for covering a surface of
the slab. The receptacles of the analysis container are pre-filled
with test agents that are required for carrying out biochemical
operations. The film covers the surface of the slab after the
receptacles are filled with the test agents to seal the
receptacles. The slab forms an opening in which an individual
receptacle is received and retained. The individual receptacle
comprises a cover and functions as a final product collection
receptacle and is located at an end of the slab. The slab has a
surface on which a tip portion is formed at a location close to the
opening for the final product collection receptacle. The tip
portion forms a step that defines a difference in altitude with
respect to the surface of the slab. After the receptacles are
filled with required buffer liquids or test agents, the films
covers the surface of the slab and the tip portion to completely
seal the receptacles. With the arrangement of the tip portion, the
removal of the film is made easy.
[0013] Compared to the prior art techniques, the present invention
provides a liquid transfer device and a pipette and an analysis
container used in the liquid transfer device, wherein the pipette
is a disposable tube having a sealed interior space that
effectively alleviate cross contamination occurring in the course
of liquid transfer. Further, the manufacturing of the disposable
tube of the pipette overcomes the complicated process that is
conventional adopted, but still maintaining the precision of the
amount of the liquid being transferred. The present invention also
provides an analysis container that is pre-fillable with
biochemical agents and a tray, both being engageable with and thus
retained to each other. Further, a tip portion is provided on the
analysis container to facilitate removal of a cover film that seals
the container to thereby eliminating any potential risk of
deterioration of the result of purification, extraction, selection,
and/or inspection of nucleic acids due to contamination of the test
agents inside the container caused by contaminants attached to the
surface of the cover film.
[0014] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
a few optimal embodiments and descriptions in details in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a liquid transfer device
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the liquid transfer device of
the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side elevation illustrating the operation of the
liquid transfer device in accordance with the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 is also a side elevation illustrating the operation
of the liquid transfer device in accordance with the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 5A is a top view of an analysis container according to
the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5B is a cross-section view of the analysis container
according to the present invention;
[0021] FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views respectively showing a
cover film detached from the analysis container and the cover film
attached to the analysis container;
[0022] FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views showing the
operation of mounting the analysis container to a tray in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of
the liquid transfer device in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] The present invention will now be described more
specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to
be noted that the following description of the preferred
embodiments of the present invention is presented for purpose of
illustration and description only and it is not intended to be
exhaustive or to be limited to the precise forms disclosed.
[0025] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1
and 2, a liquid transfer device constructed in accordance with the
present invention is show, comprises a pipette 100, which comprise
an elongate hollow member that extends in an axial direction and is
integrally formed or formed by combination of two or more separate
components. The pipette 100 has a first end 103 and a second end
104. The second end 104 of the pipette 100 comprises a fixing
section 101 with which the pipette 100 is securable to a coupling
member 102 of a manipulator 203. The manipulator 203 comprises a
motor 2031, a transmission component 2032, a transmission shaft
2033, a panel 2034 (see FIG. 2). The manipulator 203 comprises at
least one coupling members 102, and preferably the manipulator 203
comprises a plurality of coupling members 102, such as two as best
seen in FIG. 2, and corresponding to each of the plurality of
coupling members 102, the pipette 100 is provided with a fixing
section 101, such as a groove, a circumferential slot, or a hole,
engageable with the coupling member 102 for example in an
interference fitting manner to thereby mount the pipette 100 to the
manipulator 203 in a radial direction. The liquid transfer device
of the present invention allows for mounting and/or dismounting in
a horizontal direction to reduce potential risk of cross
contamination during the process of mounting/dismounting of the
pipette 100. However, this is only one illustrative, not
limitative, example for mounting the pipette 100 and the present
invention is not limited to such an example. In addition, the
coupling members 102 also function to limit or set the position and
vertical level that the pipette 100 is mounted to the manipulator
203.
[0026] The first end 103 of the pipette 100 forms an opening or
nozzle 206 and the second end 104 forms an enclosed volume-variable
bladder 204, whereby variation of the volume of the bladder 204
causes difference in pressure, which selectively induces a suction
force and/or a discharge force. Preferably, the volume-variable
bladder 204 comprises a bellow structure made of an elastic
material, which has a resilient property facilitating re-expanding
a compressed volume of the bladder 204 that is caused by an
externally applied collapsing force. The bladder 204 is constructed
to extend in an axial direction of the pipette 100 or in a
direction transverse to the axial direction or the bladder 204 can
be an elastic structure assuming a spherical shape. It is noted
that the specific configuration of the bladder 204 illustrated in
the drawings is just a non-exhaustive example, and is not
considered a limitation to the scope of the present invention. The
pipette 100 is preferably made by plastic injection molding and the
material that makes the pipette 100 can be selected from a group
consisting of polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, and
polystyrene. Further, the molded pipette 100 is constructed that
the pipette 100 comprises a storage chamber 205 formed between the
opening 206 of the second end 104 and the bladder 204 of the first
end 103 to serve as a storage space for suction, transfer, and
mixing of test agents during processes of purification, extraction,
selection, and inspection.
[0027] FIG. 3 demonstrates the operation of the liquid transfer
device in accordance with the present invention. A driving
mechanism 207 is provided for generating an action force to the
bladder 204 of the pipette 100 to cause variation of volume of the
bladder 204, which in turn generates a pressure difference that
realizes suction and/or discharge of test agents. Particularly, the
driving mechanism 207 may generate an upward action force A, which
expands the volume of the volume-variable bladder 204, so that a
suction force is induced in the pipette 100, which draws liquid
sample or agent that is pre-filled in a receptacle 301a into the
storage chamber 205 of the pipette 100 via the opening 206. With
the movement of the manipulator 203 (see FIG. 2) along a given
direction, the liquid sample or agents held in the storage chamber
205 is moveable to a next receptacle 301 to carry out purification,
extraction, selection, and/or inspection of nucleic acids.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the driving mechanism 207 is also
operable to generate a downward action force B to the pipette 100
to compress the volume of the volume-variable bladder 204. Thus, a
releasing force is induced in the pipette 100 to release or
discharge the liquid sample held in the storage chamber 205 for
mixing with the liquid or agent that is pre-filled in the
receptacle 301a. In other words, the driving mechanism 207 is
reciprocally operable to selectively generate the upward action
force A or the downward action force B, either of which varies the
volume of the volume-variable bladder 204. By this, the volume of
the bladder 204 can be straightforward varied and the restoration
or resumption of the bladder 204 can be maintained consistent. It
is noted that the present invention is not limited to using the
described driving mechanism 207 to act on the bladder 204 for
suction and/or discharge or release of a liquid sample into/out of
the pipette 100 and it is apparent that various combination and
assembly or construction can be employed in accordance with
practical requirements to cause volume variation of the bladder 204
and thus pressure difference for suction/release of liquid sample
into/out of the pipette 100.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B, the liquid
transfer device in accordance with the present invention further
comprises an analysis container 300 forming a plurality of
receptacle 301, 301a, 301b which is retained by a slab 303 and
functions to contain therein test agents for processes of
biochemical purification, extraction, selection, and inspection.
The slab 303 also forms an opening 704 for receiving and holding an
individual receptacle 706 that functions as a final product
collection receptacle which is located at an end of the slab 303.
The individual receptacle 706 is provided with a cover 705. The
receptacles of the analysis container 300 include a magnetic
separation receptacle 301a having a specific configuration that
includes a substantially flat bottom having a sloped surface for
carrying out magnetic separation operation with a magnetic element
C (see FIG. 2) by positioning the magnetic element close to the
sloped surface of the magnetic separation receptacle 301 so as to
attract and hold magnetic beads (not shown), which are disposed
into the magnetic separation receptacle 301, on the sloped surface,
whereby the pipette 100 can be fed deeply into the magnetic
separation receptacle 301 to draw in the test agent that has been
subjected to magnetic separation process and further the pipette
100 can be moved to locate above the sloped surface and release or
discharge the test agent that is held in the storage chamber 205
thereof onto the magnetic beads and then draw in the test agent
again, leading to repeated flushing of the magnetic beads to
thereby obtain a highly purified extraction sample. The receptacles
of the analysis container 300 also include temperature-controlled
receptacles 301b, which are positioned in association with a
temperature control element D (see FIG. 2) for realizing
temperature control that maintains the optimum temperature range
desired for certain processes.
[0030] The analysis container 300 in accordance with the present
invention can be filled in with test agents and/or buffer liquids
for biochemical purification, extraction, selection or inspection
and a cover film 305 is provided for covering a surface of the slab
303 to seal the analysis container 300. The analysis container 300
forms a tip portion 306 on the surface of the slab 303 at a
location close to the opening 704, in which the individual
receptacle 706 is received and held. The tip portion 306 is set in
the form of a step or a shoulder that defines a difference in
altitude with respect to the surface of the slab 303 so as to
facilitate and ease the removal of the cover film 305 off the
surface of the slab 303.
[0031] The analysis container 300 further comprises a lock section
302 formed at each one of opposite ends thereof. It is noted that
the location and number of the lock sections 302 are not considered
as limitation to the scope of the present invention, and it is
preferred that two lock sections 302 are respectively provided at
the opposite ends of the analysis container 300 for simplification
of manufacturing. The lock sections 302 are engageable with a tray
300 that forms at least one cavity 703 so that the tray 700 carries
the analysis container 300. In this respect, the lock sections can
of different forms, as long as they are engageable with counterpart
retention sections formed on the tray 700 to secure the analysis
container 300 to the tray 700. The tray 700 forms retention
sections 701, 702 corresponding to and engageable with the lock
sections of the analysis container 300 to secure the analysis
container 300 to the tray 700. Once the analysis container 300 is
so secured to the tray 700, the cover film 305 can be removed from
the slab 303 with the aid of the tip portion 306. In this way,
deterioration of final extraction due to pollution/contamination of
the test agents contained in the container 300 caused by any
contaminants attached to the surface of the cover film 305 can be
eliminated. The cover film 305 also provides tight sealing that
prevents volatile liquid contained inside the container 300 from
evaporation and loss. The cover film 305 can be attached to the
slab 303 by ultrasonic processing or thermal fusion to realize the
tight sealing. The container 300 can be made of for example
polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and
styrene copolymer.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 8, to realize precise control for
biochemical purification, extraction, selection and/or inspection,
the pipette 100 of the present invention is capable to perform
relative movement with respect to the tray 700 by means of the
manipulator 203. Thus, the manipulator 203 and the tray 700
together form movement control means 707 for the liquid transfer
device in accordance with the present invention. For example, the
pipette 100 that is attached to the manipulator 203 provides or
effects movements for horizontal displacement and/or vertical
displacement, wile the tray 700 is kept stationary and the driving
mechanism 207 is operated to effect release and/or suction of the
test agents into/from the pipette 100; or alternatively, the
pipette 100 that is attached to the manipulator 203 effects
movement for horizontal displacement, while the tray 700 carries
out movement for vertical displacement; or further alternatively,
the pipette 100 that is attached to the manipulator 203 takes
movement for vertical displacement, while the tray 700 performs
horizontal displacement and again, the driving mechanism 207 is
operated to effect release and/or suction of the test agents
into/from the pipette 100 for processes of purification,
extraction, selection, and/or inspection of nucleic acids.
[0033] Compared to the prior art techniques, the present invention
provides a liquid transfer device and a pipette and an analysis
container used in the liquid transfer device, wherein the pipette
is a disposable tube having a sealed interior space that
effectively alleviate cross contamination occurring in the course
of liquid transfer. Further, the manufacturing of the disposable
tube of the pipette overcomes the complicated process that is
conventional adopted, but still maintaining the precision of the
amount of the liquid being transferred. The present invention also
provides an analysis container that is pre-fillable with
biochemical agents and a tray, both being engageable with and thus
retained to each other. Further, a tip portion is provided on the
analysis container to facilitate removal of a cover film that seals
the container to thereby eliminating any potential risk of
deterioration of the result of purification, extraction, selection,
and/or inspection of nucleic acids due to contamination of the test
agents inside the container caused by contaminants attached to the
surface of the cover film.
[0034] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
* * * * *